The Spanish Inquisition was not officially abolished until the 19th century. However, before this, there had been a huge drop in the number of trials and executions, and by the time of its dissolution, the Inquisition was effectively inactive. However, it is still remembered as an atrocity, whether or not its offenses are egregious, or misrepresented, as the Catholic Church claims. Many people have used the Inquisition and other witch-hunts to denounce the Church, and various Popes have responded defensively, claiming that the Church has an obligation to stop heresies. However, the Inquisition had no long-standing effect on historical events. Although the bloody history of the Inquisition has long been remembered, the Inquisition itself faded, leaving no mark of its bloodthirsty ways on Spain today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trglcYHSKFU: A Monty Python sketch parodying the Inquisition.